Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 512 · 40 questions

Writing tip (One clause leans on the other): Find the clause that starts with because, although, if, when, since, who, which or that — the subordinate clause (When the rain stopped). On its own it is not a complete sentence. The rest is the main clause (we went out to play): it makes complete sense alone. Choose the joining word by meaning: because → a reason, although → a surprise, if → a condition, when → a time, since → from a time until now, who → a person, which → a thing, that → what someone says, thinks or knows. Sort any sentence: one clause → simple; two main clauses → compound; a main clause + a subordinate clause → complex.

1. 1.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) Dad switched on the fan
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) was very heavy

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